By Janice Ancrum, President & CEO
Our “Salute to Seniors” Gala marking NCCOA’s 50th anniversary was most definitely a milestone in our history. More than 500 people gathered to celebrate our past, present and future service to Nassau County seniors at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, January 20. Through a night of special seniors, delicious food, beautiful music – and the Dynamic Duo of Aaron Bean and John Drew – we also made fundraising history with the highest total ever at our annual Gala. We are so appreciative of our community’s support throughout our first 50 years, and know your generosity will continue in the next 50…and beyond. For those not able to join us for this truly memorable event, here are a few excerpts from my comments that evening…
Since our humble beginnings in 1974, your Council on Aging has recognized seniors’ immediate needs and delivered programs and services to meet those needs, such as meals, transportation, home repair, wellness, socialization and more. We owe our success to many of you in this room tonight…THANK YOU for believing in us and for walking that journey with us EVERY step of the way. Our former State Representative George Crady, who is with us tonight, had a vision to bring the Council on Aging to Nassau County. With help from local attorney Buddy Jacobs and community leader Elsie Harper, we officially got our start on February 15, 1974…50 years later, we’re stronger than ever!
EVERYTHING we do at the Council on Aging is about aging in place for seniors who wish to remain in their homes for as long and as independently as possible. It’s also about people like Congressman Aaron Bean who served as the youngest mayor of this community, was a state representative and a state senator and is still committed to making lives better for others – especially seniors.
Our MAJOR PARTNERS here tonight – ElderSource, Board of County Commissioners, City of Fernandina Beach, United Way, Baptist Health System and so many others have been with us for many decades.
We have INCREDIBLE volunteers – 325 of them and many of you are here tonight. We have a CHORE team of volunteers – with us this evening – who travel across Nassau County each week building wheelchair ramps, installing grab bars and rails to prevent falls, repairing steps and windows, and taking care of many more small home repairs, all critical to the ability of a senior to remain in their home as they age.
I could go on and on and on – as I’ve said, each of you has left an impression. However, allow me to recognize 2 phenomenal women here tonight…Mrs. Betty Berkman and Mrs. Julie Wood, whom I proudly call “MY FRIENDS.”
As our 50th anniversary sponsor, Mrs. Berkman is a community icon and has answered so many calls and needs in this community. She and her late husband, Mr. David Berkman, never missed an opportunity to make life better for someone else. Because of them, there are many Berkman landmarks in our community. The latest Berkman project, the Berkman Pavilion & Memorial Garden, will be dedicated at Nassau County Council on Aging’s Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center on Monday, February 5 at 11 am. I invite you to celebrate with us. THANK YOU, Mrs. Berkman, for all you do for our seniors and for our community.
Our presenting sponsor – for the second year – is Mrs. Julie Wood. After her husband lost his battle with lung cancer, Mrs. Wood established the Tom & Julie Wood Family Foundation in 2010. Through the foundation, she is a significant donor to our annual campaigns, as well as the benefactor of a major multi-million-dollar legacy gift to pay off our mortgage at 1901 Island Walk Way and expand programs and services to underserved seniors. THANK YOU, Mrs. Wood, for everything you do for our seniors and for our community.
To Mrs. Berkman and Mrs. Wood, your gifts to our Council on Aging are transformational. And, the legacies of David Berkman and Tom Wood will certainly live on through you and your generous spirit.
And finally, I’d like to recognize the people who allow me to live my dream of being of service to others…our Board of Directors who VOLUNTEER every day to keep our mission at the forefront. As many of you know, we lost one of our own just 10 days ago…our Board Secretary and longtime member Chris Bryan.
Chris was the HEART of our community. She NEVER met a stranger and as mentioned during her memorial service she was a difference maker. Chris believed in the dignity of everyone and served her community extremely well. Our hearts are still heavy, but we know how much she loves this community and would want us to continue doing great work. Tonight and always, let’s remember Chris Bryan and her resilience, her strength and her determination to uplift and love people as much and as often as possible.
Thank you.